The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-01-12
Proposing in His Sleep.

| a strange romance IS recalled Dy tne
Atlanta Constitution. Some years ago
DR.. Hardin removed from Savannah to
Americas, Ga. He was warmly received
and became favorite in the best social
| circles. His closest friendship was
formed with q young lady, Miss julia
-, and later on she and her mother
started out shopping for the bridal trous-
seau. Of the usual sequel the Constita-
ton says:
Society had pretty we'll guessed the
course of affairs. Congratulations poured
in upon the young lady, all of which she
accepted with becoming modesty. The
groom xpectant, however, acted mys-
teriously. He never made reference to
the happy affair with which his name
was linked. When friend congratu-
lated him he looked puzzled, but offered
no invitation to proceed. Thus weeks
passed until the date popularly supposed
to have been set for the nuptials had
gone by. The doctor moved about the
city in his usual unconcern. The young
lady held her grief and disappointment
sacred. and ventured no word of censure
or complaint. In fact, the mystery be-
came so great that the question as to
whether the couple had ever been en-
gagged or not became one of violent local
agitation. The soldier friends OF the
young lady's brother, feeling that she
was without male protection, determined
that she should not be imposed upon.
They met, to the number OF q dozen,
late one evening, and agreed to call on
the doctor and get an explanation. They
reached his room, and were told that he
had gone out not five minutes before for
walk, and would not be back until
after midnight. In order to fill in the
time until that hour, the party went to
Miss Julia's house to consult her about
the matter. They were surprised TO
find the doctor there, while near him sat
the young lady in tears. One OF the
men. maddened at the doctors icy IN
difference, rushed over to him, and grasp
ing him by the shoulder, shook him vio-
lently. The doctor yawned deeply; he
arose and rubbed his eyes, and, looking
around him in the utmost be'Hilderment,
asked: "How came I here2 This is so
very strange. I went to bed in my
room at 8 o'clock, and thought until
this moment that was there" He was
a somnambulist! In the talk which fol-
lowed the whole matter was made PLAIN.
After having visited Miss Julia twice, he
began coming at 8 o'clock, when he
was not expected. His manner was
somewhat stiff and formal, but he
pressed his suit with perse 'erance. tie
would never make the remotest reference
to any other subject. He never thought
of leaving until few minutes before l
o'clock in the morning. His late hour II
coming, his late hour in leaving always
seemed strange, but, as his behavior was
ALWAYS most circumspect, it was not
thought of after the first few nights.
Thus he proposed, was accepted, had the
date appointed and passed it over. In
his waking hours he had no recollection
whatever of the events of the night be-
fore. After the matter had thus been
made plain the doctor said: " Now,
Miss Julia, since all this transpired in my
sleep, may as we'll tell you that your
image has been impressed on my heart
all along. Will you consent again to my
proposal2" 1t was too plain that no op-
position existed there. Soon the license
was procured, the minister called in and
the happy pair were made one. But one
chapter more remains to be told. When
the yellow fever broke out in Savannah
with virulence, about ten years ago, DR..
Hardin was one of the most Jealous In
waiting upon the sick in that city. He
never refused the ca of duty. At last
he, too, succumbed to the dread de-
stroyer, and he now sleeps with the silent
majority.